African daisies are in high demand, with annual net income per mu reaching 20,000 yuan

Picking African daisies.

"Hey, Boss Chen, I want 200 bunches of African daisies. Please pick them for me this afternoon, and I'll drive over to collect them tomorrow morning."

"Boss Chen, I want 100 bunches. I'll pay on delivery tomorrow morning"...

Recently, Chen Yuanwen, a villager from Gaokan Village, Mixin Town, Tongnan District, has had his phone ringing nonstop, with many customers calling to reserve African daisies from him, giving him a great sense of accomplishment.

A few years ago, Chen Yuanwen, who had originally been working away from home, learned by chance that African daisies are a common cut flower in the floral market, with high market demand and good growing returns. The key point was that no one in Tongnan was growing them locally, and everything sold on the market was flown in from Yunnan.

"After researching the market and looking up information online, I found that African daisies are highly adaptable and relatively easy to grow." After much consideration, Chen Yuanwen decided to return home to grow African daisies.

In April 2016, Chen Yuanwen returned to his hometown of Gaokan Village, transferred 18 mu of land, invested more than 200,000 yuan, put up 26 greenhouses, and introduced excellent African daisy varieties from Kunming to begin cultivation.

"The biggest feature of African daisies is their long flowering period. They can bloom all year round, and under suitable temperature and humidity conditions, they bloom continuously." Chen Yuanwen explained that when planted in April, picking begins in July and continues until the end of October. Each greenhouse can be picked 4 times a month, with an average of more than 1,000 stems per picking. In other months, they can also be picked 3 times a month, with an average selling price of about 0.8 yuan per stem, and the annual net income per mu of land can reach 20,000 yuan.

This income is much better than working for someone else!

"African daisies have another amazing quality: after planting, they can be picked continuously for 6 years." Chen Yuanwen explained that apart from the relatively large initial investment, there are basically no other expenses afterward except labor costs, so the returns are quite considerable.

At Chen Yuanwen's flower base, the reporter saw African daisies in red, yellow, orange, pink and other colors in full bloom, decorating every greenhouse with brilliant colors.

Chen Yuanwen's flowers are all picked in the afternoon of the same day and go on the market early the next morning. Without long-distance transportation, there is no damage, ensuring the quality of the flowers to the greatest extent, so they are highly favored by local florists.

"Although I haven't been working with the florists for long, they have all reached long-term supply agreements with me." Chen Yuanwen said that the African daisies he grows fill a gap in the local market. At present, in addition to being sold to areas around Chongqing, there are also markets in Suining, Chengdu and other places. Sales are brisk, with great "money prospects."